A couple of years ago, on the way back from a road trip/mini tour out east, my editor, Max Maki, put on a mix tape I had made for her a few years prior. When this song came on, we were near home (Ottawa) and were bone tired and stir crazy. Max's insistent calls for "small talk and chit chat" had driven us (me and our drummer, Kyle) into a murderous rage. "North Star" had a calming effect. The rhythm guitar, perfectly clean, in the right speaker. And the Frippertronics, like the cooing of a love-struck whale, in the left.
I didn't recognize the song as "North Star," and thus did not recognize the singer as Daryl Hall. This latter irrecognition aided my appreciation. And allowed me to forgive Daryl for his great many sins. Absolved and benign, Daryl did the same for me. We still live together. [Buy]
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Jonathan Richman - "New Kind of Neighborhood"
Well, this new kind of neighbourhood sounds pretty good. The song’s great coup is that it sounds like the neighbourhood it describes. You don’t have to be Kurt Godel then, to deduce that the song sounds pretty good. You do have to be Kurt Godel, however, to deny this song’s goodness (that would require an advanced (modal) logic). But since none of you are KG, we all agree. Good. [Buy]
Posted by Jordan at August 5, 2005 1:25 AMGranted, Daryl Hall's work with Fripp on Exposure is his most artistically valid. (Artistic validity happens when one gravitates towards or orbits around Fripp - remember Eno? - just kidding)But despite a sometimes mixed musical past (surely anything after 1984 is a waste, and there's much that could go from before then...did you really think you could outdo The Righteous Brothers on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"?)Nevertheless, I can submit 2 examples of Darryl Hall excellence outside of Fripp's gravitational influence, but well within the pull of John Oates (who's really jealous about you guys rooming).
1) The verses in "Kiss On My List".
2) I Can't Go For That (No Can Do).
Kurt Godel may derive what he can from that, but I'm right and here's what I derive from it:
Daryl Hall gave me the keys to your apartment, figuratively speaking such that I have them, literally speaking & John Oates' jealousy has reached new heights.
Is that Jonathan Richman song perhaps a reason to still believe in the world, even after Mr. Rogers?
Mike
Posted by Mike at August 5, 2005 5:40 PMhall and oates have it all figured out. "sara smile" owns. i will one day meet/marry someone named sara (or sarah, the h is optional) just so i can rock out to this track when she's not around.
Posted by john oates at August 10, 2005 1:30 PMI had no idea there was a Fripp/Hall collaboration.
That song is such a surprise. Hall lends Fripp some pop sensibility, and Fripp lets Hall sing without all of the silly dancing. Great results!
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
